New Delhi, March 28
India today strongly denounced Pakistan for trying to interfere in its internal affairs by making a comment on Hurriyat Conference leader Yasin Malik’s arrest under POTO.

In response to a question Ms Nirupama Rao, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said it was indeed “very strange that the spokesman of a military regime which has overthrown a democratically elected government and which is seen as having further plans for a sham democracy is making comments on a law passed by an elected Parliament in India.”

The spokesperson made it abundantly clear that Pakistan had no locus standi on the matter which was entirely India’s internal affair.

“Is Pakistan concerned that there would now be even more effective action against terrorism and terrorist groups it has sponsored in India?” she asked.

New Delhi, March 28
India’s concern over terrorism and the urgency to speed up negotiations to resolve the protracted border problem are expected to be outlined during parleys External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh will have with Chinese leaders in Beijing tomorrow.

Mr Jaswant Singh, who leaves tonight on a three-nation visit that includes South Korea and Myanmar, will have wide-ranging discussions with his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan on the entire gamut of bilateral ties.

The visit is seen as part of intensified efforts by the two countries to impart a new momentum in bilateral relations. During Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji’s visit to India in January, the two sides had agreed on a bilateral mechanism on counter-terrorism dialogue for the first time.

The two sides are expected to finalise details of the mechanism to pave the way for the first round of structured dialogue at an early date. He will also call on the Chinese Premier and Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and meet Dai Bingguo, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.

Jaswant Singh’s trip on the inaugural direct service of China Eastern Airlines marks the resumption of direct air links between the two countries.

Considerable significance is being attached to the visit which comes as a follow-up to the important visit to India in January by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji.

The invitation to travel on the inaugural flight was conveyed by Mr Zhu during his meeting with Mr Jaswant Singh here on January 14.

During the parleys, the two sides are expected to assess the progress in discussions by the expert group on the protracted boundary question so that further impetus, momentum and dynamism can be provided to the process, officials said.

Further forward movement on the decision to expedite the process of “clarification” of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the countries is also likely to figure during the talks.